Finding New Voices in Romantic Fiction

Finding New Voices in Romantic Fiction

My Secret Crush: Keanu Reeves

June 26, 2017

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By Anonymous

In the Harlequin office lurks a worshipper of Ted, Jack, Neo, Shane, Matt, Julian, and most recently John Wick. Over several decades, Keanu has shown us the depth needed in any romantic hero. He chills, he thinks, he studies chemical compounds, he builds houses, he chases Dracula, he crashes cars, and he confounds us with existential crises. Plus, he looks amazing in plaid shirts, jeans, and hiking boots.

My love for Keanu Charles Reeves began with River’s Edge, where he played a tormented teen. I was tormented for him and realized immediately that he was destined to be my husband for superstardom. At least in hindsight. And no, I did not write him a fan letter, nor do I ever think he should grace one of the Harlequin series covers.

I appreciate the breadth of his work. He’s been totally awesome for decades and has acted in over fifty movies, along with many other projects. His creativity cannot be denied. As box office gold or an indie favorite, he has maintained a presence. When you think he’s hibernating in his Keanu Kave, he resurfaces and is better than ever! He has a way of reinventing himself, and you don’t ever quite know who he is. You just love him.

Just to name a few of his projects…

Of course, he plays the magnificent Siddhartha in Little Buddha, encouraging us all to be enlightened souls.

He saves Sandra Bullock (though actually her driving saves them all) in Speed.

He outfoxes Al Pacino in The Devil’s Advocate and it’s so cool how he does it even though painful to watch.

Somehow, we believe he’s a quarterback in The Replacements, though I don’t think he can dance (see the jail scene). He gets into it, though.

Keanu scoffs at your thinking that he only plays the good guy. Check him out as probably the sexiest serial killer on screen in The Watcher. Sure, James Spader is trying to bring him down, but he can’t compare to a demonic Keanu who slays his victims with piano wire. You want Bad Keanu to win!

He does new things, like Shakespeare! Behold his villainous ways as Don John (not Don Johnson) in Much Ado About Nothing. Best line of dialogue ever: Let us to the banquet.

Who can forget how Keanu almost stole Diane Keaton’s heart in Something’s Gotta Give. If you ever need an uplifting image, just picture him in that periwinkle t-shirt, holding flowers, asking Diane to love him. Plus, he plays a doctor, who cares for the ill and divorced, as evidenced by his bringing green tea and not coffee to Diane when salacious Jack has a heart attack. This girl would choose Keanu over Jack any day.

Keanu doesn’t restrict himself as the doctor, the detective, the dude. In The Lake House, he works in construction (is mainly an architect). You really feel the mud he keeps stepping in, his eloquence in composing letters to depressed doc Sandra Bullock, and how he doesn’t get confused by the space-time continuum. The last scene alone kept me swooning for many weeks (years).

I’ll admit, with the advent of Daniel Craig as James Bond, I haven’t been as attentive to Keanu…until John Wick came onto the scene. It’s a testament to the fact that over-fifty-year-old heartthrobs make for excellent action heroes.

Keanu isn’t prominent tabloid fodder, which builds our view of him as a complex character, with a certain mystique. He pops up here and there, like when he gave up his seat on the subway. Sometimes, he rides a motorcycle or shows up at a premiere. Mostly, we just see him in the movies…or think of him as an enduring hero.

And he’s just Keanu, okay?

Happy Monday!
Ps. I would mention The Matrix, except I don’t really understand this franchise.

Comments

I loved Keanu in The Matrix. He’s good in anything he’s played. He’s great with Sandra Bullock. One of those romantic teams to remember like Hanks and Ryan. There is nothing wrong with a hunk occupying your dreams as you write a great romance. Nothing at all. Except if it were to become reality… Lol.

You have the same feelings I have for Keanu. You failed to mention him in Sweet November with Charlize Theron. He was wonderful in that movie. He is the tall, silent type that just wins you over by just looking at him……I love his acting and loved John Wick 1 and 2. How can you not like a guy that seeks revenge because his puppy got killed. I was right with him in every action seen against the villains. I loved the Matrix although like you, never could quite understand the whole concept but Keanu was wonderful regardless. Basically I think the reason we all really like him is he is just a great guy in his personal life also. Rides the subway, he gave everyone in the last Matrix movie motorcycles and walks around just like we all would do but he looks far better.

Meet the Editors

Dana Grimaldi

0 Dana Grimaldi is an associate editor for Harlequin Dare and Harlequin Heartwarming. She also manages the Worldwide Mystery and Suspense program. Dana loves photography and can often be found outdoors, taking pictures of...